Housing market moving at its fastest pace for five years

Building your dream open plan living space

 

With light and space becoming essential in any house post-lockdown, it’s no surprise that many homeowners are opting for a more open plan living space.

 

Here are a few simple tips to help you build a beautiful integrated living and dining area.

 

Consider your specific requirements

 

What would you like to achieve from your project? It’s a good idea to make a list of what you need from your new space.

 

Do you want to be able to watch movies or play music, and what sort of storage do you need it to have?

 

Will you need planning permission?

 

To create your living and dining area, you could refit the existing space or extend on what you already have.

 

Before starting any major projects, always contact your local planning authority to confirm whether you need to apply for planning permission.

 

Always follow building regulations

 

Your project may not need planning permission, but it will need to comply with building regulations. These will include rules around ventilation, insulation, heating and fire protection.

  

You may need to seek professional assistance

 

You might want to seek help with design and technical drawings of your new space, depending on the scale of the work being undertaken.

 

An architect would be able to help you with this. If the dining area is going to incorporate a kitchen, you may need to seek out a kitchen designer to make the most of your space and give you the guidance you need.

  

Let natural light in

 

If you want to add light to your open plan space, then installing glazing and bi-fold doors is an easy way to do that.

 

Another option is adding roof lights or a roof lantern to get rid of any dark corners.

 

Recently renovated your property? If your home has recently undergone a refurbishment, we can value your property and help you learn its current sale value, talk to us today.

 

 

 

 

UK property prices up 13% compared to pre-pandemic

 

When the stamp duty holiday came to an end, it was expected that the home buying frenzy would tail off, however, prices and demand continue to soar.

 

There are currently 24% fewer homes on the market than this time last year, with higher than average enquiry levels and interest per property listed.**

 

Even when SDLT savings dropped from £15,000 to £2,500 earlier this summer, house prices were 11% higher when compared with August 2020, as increased demand led to competitive offers from buyers.*

 

For August 2021, the average price sat at £248,857. That has risen by 13% since the start of the pandemic, and an increase of £5,000 in the space of one month.*

  

Levels of demand are set to continue climbing as borrowing costs remain low. The fact that these costs have remained low has caused consumer confidence to grow, increasing demand further.

  

Experts predict that in autumn 2021, the property market will continue to see promising transaction levels, whilst by 2031, the average house price will have jumped by 30%.***

 

Our property experts can give you a reliable and free market appraisal, so that you know exactly how much your property is worth.

 

Book your valuation today.

 

 

 

*Nationwide

**Zoopla

***Based on trends from the Office for National Statistics

 

 

How much do you know about the mortgage process?

 

According to a recent survey, buyers are hopelessly uninformed on the mortgage process.

 

Whilst the furlough scheme was active, 64% of those living in Britain believed that lenders would not consider whether they received support when applying for a mortgage.*  

 

Likewise, from a survey of 2,000 adults, 42% did not believe being self-employed would be considered.

 

When deciding whether to lend to you or not, a bank will always assess the risk factor, which means taking into account anything that may affect repayments, such as your employment status and spending behaviour. 

 

Of all generations, it is those aged 35 and under with the least experience on what to expect when applying or looking to re-mortgage for a better deal.

 

Only 15% of those aged 18 to 24 knew that the government-guaranteed mortgage scheme announced earlier this year applied to them, with a staggering 85% left in the dark.*

  

Wondering if you’re eligible?

 

Open until 31 December 2022 for new applications, this scheme is available to first-time buyers and home movers across the UK.

 

For more information, go to: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-95-mortgage-scheme-launches

  

If you’re looking for mortgage advice, contact our dedicated team today. We can provide comprehensive advice and help you find the best deal possible.

 

 

 

*Estate Agent Today

 

 

The rental market goes from strength to strength

 

It has never been a better time to purchase a buy-to-let property in the North West. Rental demand is up 19% compared to last year, while the total stock of rental property is down 13%.

 

Figures for the Northwest in the summer show an increase of 4.2% with average monthly rental rate and we estimate this being around 9% in the last 18 months. We have had a busy summer season with all of our properties listed being rented within an average of 7 days.

 

Here at TVG Lettings we keep a close eye on the rental market, ensuring we are achieving the best possible rental returns for our clients.

 

The market has been extremely busy for a number of reasons such as tenants moving back to the area, searching for additional rooms as a study to work from home and the pandemic giving people a different perspective on where they wish to live.

 

We are always happy to assist landlords with their buy to let investments, giving desktop rental appraisals before clients even view a potential purchase so they have all their required information before making an offer.

 

We only want you to buy investments that will work for you in the long term and have assisted multiple clients in buying one investment right through to large portfolios.

 

We offer competitive management packages, provide you with a dedicated property manager and pride ourself in giving a personable service to all clients.

 

Please call our fantastic team on 0151 640 0340 and we will be delighted to answer any questions.

 

Alternatively please email at enquiries@tvglettings.co.uk and we will be happy to send information on our services.

 

 

"I would definitely recommend Bradshaw Farnham & Lea"

"I have to say, the sale / purchase was handled extremely professionally by the staff and I'd like to mention in particular two staff members, Julie and Amy, who were hugely supportive and helpful.

 

Very, very impressed!"

Click here to read "I would definitely recommend Bradshaw Farnham & Lea".

Here are five reasons you should sell with us

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No Upfront Costs

 

No Tie-In Period

 

Market-leading sales package

 

We're Open 7 Days a Week

Click here to read Here are five reasons you should sell with us.

Smiles all around from happy buyers and vendors

Tell us if we’re wrong, but there’s no better feeling than when you complete on your dream home!

 

Whether you’re buying or selling, at Bradshaw Farnham & Lea, we love helping you along every step of the way on your property journey!

Click here to read Smiles all around from happy buyers and vendors.

Optimal selling conditions following the end of the stamp duty holiday

 

Autumn is traditionally one of the best times to sell your home, and with demand levels remaining high despite the end of the stamp duty holiday, we're on track for one of the busiest years for sales yet.

  

Here are the top five ways to get your home sold this autumn:

 

Having neat furniture and fresh décor 

 

Keeping your house viewer-ready is paramount to securing a quick sale.

 

First impressions count, so make sure your home is looking its best before any marketing materials or photos are taken, as well as for the actual viewings themselves.

 

Add some colour to your garden 

 

Gardens can begin to look drab and unloved in autumn, however, there are simple changes you can make to ensure you get the full value from your sale.

 

Even if you have limited outdoor space, a tub or plant pot can easily brighten up your garden and make it look much more attractive.

 

Take advantage of natural light 

 

Post-lockdown, bright open space is in demand.

 

Let as much natural light in as possible before having photographs taken, such as by cleaning windows and keeping rooms well lit.

 

It may also be worth illuminating any dark corners with lamps to give the impression of natural light.

 

Be available for daytime viewings 

 

With limited light available in autumn evenings, it’s important to be available in the daytime. Any effective agent should be willing to do viewings when you are unable.

 

If you’re looking for the right agent, look no further and contact us to see how we could help you today...

 

Keep your home well ventilated 

 

The last thing you want is your house to be stuffy while you’re having a viewing. Having fresh air circulating is a great way to make your house feel airy and comfortable.

 

It’s a good idea to open all the windows for an hour or two before the viewing.

 

With the last rush of sales before the winter months, get your house on the market this autumn. Contact us today.

 

 

*Nationwide